Psychoactive

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˌsaɪkoʊˈæktɪv/

Definitions

1. Capable of changing consciousness, perception, mood, or cognitive function through chemical interaction with the brain
2. Having the property of altering mental states, sensory awareness, emotions, or thought processes when consumed
3. Able to influence mental activity, mood, or perception by interacting chemically with the brain

Etymology: Psychoactive is a plain compound: "psycho-", from the Greek "psykhē" meaning soul or mind, joined to "active". The combination describes substances that act on the mind rather than on the body in some other way, which is why the Greek root sits at its heart. The first half comes from a root that once referred to breath and life, and in Greek came to mean the soul, the seat of thought and feeling. English drew on this stem for many scientific and clinical coinages, so readers who know words like "psychology" or "psychiatry" will recognise the same building block. The second half, "active", brings in the idea of producing an effect, so the whole word simply means something that has a noticeable effect on the mind. The word's construction is transparent, and its meaning follows directly from its parts. Its most frequent use is in pharmacology and drug policy, where it covers substances ranging from caffeine and alcohol to prescription medicines and illegal drugs, though the term itself does not carry a judgement about legality or harm.

Synonyms: mind-altering, psychotropic, intoxicating, stimulant, hallucinogenic

Antonyms: non-psychoactive, inert, sedative, calming